Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
MAKING UP A LIST.
The Difficulties that Beset a Lady who
Wanted to Give q Lunch.

The afternoon light came softly through the
pongee curtains of the parior windows OF an up
town residence and the gentle murmur OF CONVEX
satfon, carried On by two intimate lady friends
fell and rose upon the ear. visitor came In and
the talk ran on.
II think that will give tea, said one, with
considerable animation. gus,sls5 49,
''OhI wouldn't" was the discoufagfng reply.
"YOul have to send out so many Invitations.
Now, why don't you give lunch, a real nice one,
she added, in q most seductive voice.r I.v> - = .
81 don't care what it is" was the reply; sbut I
want to give something, and guess that a lunch
would be as nice as anything else. But whom
shall invite?' she added.
IDENTIFY. "All you have to do is to make out list,
and then II you find that you have too many
names you can go over the list and strike some
out"
"Why not put down the names OF the people 1
want at Once?" she inquired.
like to invite, was the sage response. "You had
better write down the names Of every one you can
think OF, and then 90 over It again"
every well, will begin with the ladies' she re-
piled, as she left the room for pencil and paper.
''She is beginning with the easiest" remarked
the friend to The visitor during her absence ut is
But the men! Wen, you'll see" '-~' WV
nna enc hostess Of the
work. With pause now and then to nibble the
end Of the pencil In q medftative way or to ask
some question which generally lead to digres-
stons upon the dress personal qualities or family
OF the person who happened to be mentioned, the
making Of the ladies' list went on quite rapidly
and was soon finished. Then it underwent some
revision to bring the number down to the reuuts-
tie limit and the list was stamped with approval
CHANGING over the array Of names with some
satisfaction the lady again resumed the pencil
and began to write down names Of gentlemen.
She went along with great rapidity, for she was
familiar with Washington society and had made
many acquaintance in this city. Presently the
writing was concluded and then she read the
names out loud. She had hardly begun when she
ooh! he won't do. You can't invite him."
''Why," exclaimed the author Of the list
because he drinks too hard, was the reply
So that name was scratched of and then the
next was objected to because he was "a man about
town." Another man was disagreeable and he
not liked by several ladies who were invited. and
SO he was wiped out. Then this man had a doubt
full reputation, and that man did not make his
party calls and in this way slow but steady pro-
gresS was made through the long list. The lady
however, was greatly dismayed when she looked
over the names and found only two that had
escaped the critical pencil
"Th1s won't DO" she said, 1nterrupting stream
OF gossip which the names had called up. 81
haven't any men left. 1t Is necessary to have
them, you KNOW"
What are You going to dor" asked one, in a
"Do2" was the reply; 81 am going over this list
and select the necessary men. ! have to have
or 60 without"
Neither Of the ladies could dispute this philo-
Soph1cal conclusion, and the black marks having
been removed from the gentlemen's list and the
question OF "wh0 to invite" having been answered
the conversation turned to other topics.